Rafael Nadal Can Play On Hardcourts

Written by: Staff on 11th March 2013

Rafael Nadal Can Play On Hardcourts

epa03617290 Rafael Nadal from Spain in action against Ryan Harrison from the USA during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 09 March 2013. EPA/MICHAEL NELSON |

Rafael Nadal answered the most asked question that has been circulating around the tennis world in recent months; yes, the former world no.1 can still compete and win on the hard courts that so endanger the health of his troublesome knees. Now all that remains is for him to do it on a repetitive basis.

Nadal, sidelined for almost eight months and playing his first match on a hard court for 346 days, came through arguably the greatest test of his life since he first took on Roger Federer on a similar unforgiving surface on the other side of the United States in Miami nine years ago.

The 26 year-old Majorcan’s 7-6, 6-2 victory over the much-vaunted American youngster Ryan Harrison in the BNP Paribas Open at California’s Indian Wells showed he still possesses the power and ability to compete. He admitted he could have moved better but he did more than enough to win and the future does not look quite so arduous for a player whose premature loss to tennis would be a catastrophic blow for the sport.

Nadal’s initial comeback, on the less arduous clay of South and Central America had rendered two titles and one finalist’s trophy from a three tournaments in four weeks run. Playing on a hard court again was something altogether different and he admitted he could have moved better.

Putting the situation in its’ simplest terms, Nadal has few expectations and just wants the chance to play more matches. Therefore this win served its’ purpose but he made it clear he is taking things extremely carefully.

“I didn’t know if I was going to be able to come two weeks ago, but I’m very happy to be here,” said Nadal who last played on a hard court on March 29, 2012 when he beat France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Sony Open quarterfinal in Miami before being forced to withdraw from the semi-final against Andy Murray.

“But I am here although after seven months I’m not going to take crazy risks. When I am playing a tournament, if you know myself, my mentality is try my best in every moment. I really don’t think about my knee, but is true that for me today after seven months out of competition is easier to start and play on clay more than grass. Is true that we have the clay court season not very far.”

The eleven times Grand Slam champion who hasn’t won a title on any surface other than clay for more than two years, took one hour and 34 minutes to register his win with a tell-tale protective strapping around his left knee. now goes forward to face Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer, a 6-2,6-3 winner over Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny.

Regardless of his win, Nadal is still as vehement in his stance on too much tennis being played on hard courts. “I think it’s more medical things than players think. Hard courts are aggressive for the body,” he said. “If for the next generations wants to have longer careers and want to finish his careers with better conditions physically, that’s my humble opinion.

“The ATP have to find a solution and not continue playing more and more tournaments on this surface that is the harder one for the joints and for the knees, for the foot, for the ankles, for the back, for everything.”

Defending Indian Wells champion Federer expects to see his great rival across the net in opposition at the quarterfinal stage. “Rafa not having played, for me, doesn’t make any difference, really,” said Federer who is still seeking his first title of 2013 after disappointments in the Australian Open and tournaments in Rotterdam and Dubai. “I still expect him to be really difficult and tough to beat here.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

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